Wednesday Day 25

Spent the morning cutting a large woodcut for donation to the Kiwani’s charity art show to be exhibited in the greenhouse in the midst of the park. Then on to film Eaglehawk from Donna’s car. This was a visit to one of the more deprived parts of Bendigo, which in spite of the gold has one of the very lowest per capita incomes in Australia. There are large communities of long-term unemployed. While filming a rather desperate housing project we are shouted at from another car by a very large and angry man covered in tattoos. This was not pleasant and we tactfully retreated.

More bycle-mounted filming . Then editing at college. Tried to help Claire get some action on her insurance-she is still very shaken by the fire and is being given the run-around by the agencies involved. In the evening am invited to a wine tasting by Greg and then on to a meeting of the Kiwani charity club -which explodes into a huge row about the planned art show. A great insight into Aussie dynamics in a small town! Ended the day watching an excellent programme on sustainable energy projects in Australia. It is clear that the solar and geo energy potential here is huge and only receiving nominal support from central government. Australia could hold the key to global warming, but the most promising solar technology is being snapped up by America because of the poor reponse in OZ. Brown coal is still the dominant concern-it is like watching lumbering dinosaurs before their imminent extinction. The Howard government’s continuing love affair with extractive industry is closing down all the innovation which could revitalise the Australian economy.